Test Strip

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Creating a Test Strip


Question: How can I print a test strip or other very narrow print on roll paper without wasting a lot of paper?

Answer: (from Jim Harrison)

  1. Create a test strip in Photoshop to be a bit under the roll's width and, say, 1 inch tall (as an example). Let's assume we're using a 17" wide roll of paper for this example.
  2. In the print plug-in, under the "size options" button, create a custom paper size of 17" X 8" (for whatever reason, Canon limits us to 8" as the minimum length even though we know that the printer can print narrower and trim anyplace it wants). Then select that custom size in the Media Size menu.
  3. Set the orientation (portrait or landscape) to place the strip running across the 17" width of the sheet. The preview shows it centered up in the 8" long, 17" wide sheet, but have no fear!
  4. Click the "Roll Paper Options" button and in that menu, check the "No Spaces At Top Or Bottom (Conserve Paper)" check box. Make sure "Automatic Cutting" is set for "Available".
  5. The printer will then print the test strip with the minimum border (3mm) on the top and bottom and will cut it off automatically.

Note: Be sure to uncheck that box before you try to print real prints which you want to have borders.

From The 8 Bit Windows Driver

(By Bob Coss)

Here is how you achieve the same results for the 8 bit Windows driver. Again, you have to use the shortest height of 8 inches, but the driver allows you to cut off a stirp without wasting paper. I used Qimage as my printing application. I will provide notes about Qimage after the driver setup.

Driver Setup:
  1. From your application, open up the "Print Setup."
  2. Click Properties button
  3. Set your media type and color settings the way you want.
  4. Click on the Page Setup tab, set your "Media Source:" to "Roll Paper". Specify the roll length (I'll use 17 here). Orientation is "Portrait". I selected "Borderless Printing".
  5. In "Page Size:" select "Custom Size" and enter 17" x 8" for a single time, or
    Click on the "Size Options" button, and create a new named custom size. I made mine 17" x 8" (the smallest number for the settings allowed). I named mine "Test Strip". Select that in the "Page Size" list.
  6. Click the "Auto Cut" button and make sure it is set to "Yes".
  7. Click the "Layout" tab. Check the box labled "No Spaces at Top or Bottom (Conserve Paper).
  8. Click the "Ok" button to apply these settings. When you return to the "Print Setup" dialog box, make sure that the Size and Source values match what you just setup in the "Properties" dialogs. Click Ok.
  9. You are now ready to print your strip.

Qimage Setup:

  1. After the driver setup above, you should see the Page: values like 17.235 X 8.235 in. (600x600).
  2. Create a custom print size in "Print Properties" of 17" x 1".
  3. Make sure the crop scissors button is depressed.
  4. Drag your test image to the page area (it should display centered in the long strip)
  5. Enter the page editor Ctrl-E and slide the image to where you want it displayed in the strip.
  6. Click the print button, and you will have an aproximately 1 inch strip of header, and a 1 inch printed test strip.